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Armored Gunboats, 1859-1897: Photo Gallery

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1859-1882

In fleet lists as Bâtiment spécial à hélice, 1863-1866. This category was also used for Taureau in her first year, 1864.

Class: Tortue (On list 1863)
Bâtiment spécial à hélice Tortue
Tortue (Bâtiment spécial à hélice). Le Monde Illustré reported in its edition of 6 April 1861 that this singular craft was then moored near the race courses of the Bois de Boulogne and that her trials would be carried out in a few days under the eyes of Emperor Napoleon III himself. (Drawing: Le Monde Illustré, 6 April 1861, page 224)
Class: Tortue (1863)
Bâtiment spécial à hélice Tortue
Tortue (Bâtiment spécial à hélice). This iron coated craft, a personal project of Emperor Napoleon III ordered under his household budget, was handed off to the Navy in early 1862 after trials showed that it was impossible to steer her. She had two funnels side by side. (Drawing: Journal pour tous, 15 June 1861, page 352 and repeated in La Semaine des Enfants, 2 November 1861, also page 352)


1882-1897

In fleet lists as Canonnières cuirassés de 1re/2e classe 1883, to Canonnières cuirassés (no classes) 1892.

Class: Achéron (1883)
1st class armored gunboat Achéron
Achéron (1st class armored gunboat) at Saigon. (Photo: Postcard)
Class: Achéron (1883)
1st class armored gunboat Cocyte
Cocyte (1st class armored gunboat) at Dunkirk. (Photo: Postcard)
Class: Phlégéton (1883)
1st class armored gunboat Phlégéton
Phlégéton (1st class armored gunboat). (Photo: Feuille signalétique, Archives Marine BB8-2345)
Class: Phlégéton (1883)
1st class armored gunboat Styx
Styx (1st class armored gunboat). (Photo: Feuille signalétique, Archives Marine BB4-2028)
Class: Phlégéton (1883)
1st class armored gunboat Phlégéton
Phlégéton (1st class armored gunboat) between 1912 and 1916 as a floating base for the navigation police at Bizerte. Her authorized armament was 4 x 47mm QF. (Photo: Facebook by Vladimir Yakubov on 30.3.2025)


Class: Fusée (1883)
2nd class armored gunboat Mitraille
Mitraille (2nd class armored gunboat) in the Charente in 1888. (Photo: Faceboook by A. Myatishkin on 28.7.2021 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_565)
Class: Fusée (1883)
2nd class armored gunboat Fusée
Fusée (2nd class armored gunboat). (Photo: Facebook by Vladimir Yakubov on 17.5.2023, C. J. phot.)
Class: Fusée (1883)
2nd class armored gunboat Flamme
Flamme (2nd class armored gunboat) at Dunkirk in 1896 with her gun trained to port. (Photo: Facebook by Vladimir Yakubov on 16.11.2023 from Image'Est)
Class: Fusée (1883)
2nd class armored gunboat Fusée
Fusée (2nd class armored gunboat) plan showing the mounting of her main gun. (Photo: Aide-Mémoire d'Artillerie Navale, 1890)